Healthy Communities

The Snohomish Health District’s Healthy Communities program works to prevent chronic diseases by supporting healthy places to live, work and play. Chronic diseases are the leading contributors to morbidity and mortality in the United States.

Promoting healthy living

We focus on changing policies, community systems, and environments to improve the overall community health of youth and adults, including reducing obesity-related disease. We promote the elimination of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. We work within systems to support the planning of walkable communities, improve food access and promote tobacco free policies for campuses, public housing, farmers markets and parks.

Current Snohomish County initiatives

The Healthy Communities program is currently focused on child care providers and supporting healthier behaviors for 20,000 Snohomish County kids in care. We are currently focused on child care providers and the communities of Darrington and Granite Falls, with a hope to expand to more regions of Snohomish County.

The Snohomish Health District also plays a key role in facilitating the Healthy Communities Coalition, which is comprised of the largest cities — Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Marysville — and many of the smaller jurisdictions. The coalition’s goal is to expand efforts throughout Snohomish County to promote healthy living and reduce behaviors that lead to obesity and chronic disease.